Cultural integrity and marginality along the South Fork of the Salmon River, Idaho PublicDeposited

Descriptions

This work examines the varied populations which have inhabited the South Fork region from prehistoric times to the present.
It disclosed that even though almost no archaeology has been done
in the area, data from contiguous regions suggest that persistent
and careful archaeological investigation should reveal valuable
and informative sites dating back at least as far as the oldest
sites currently known in Idaho.
This work also shows that, notwithstanding basic ethnic
differences, a temporal continuum of over 12,000 years, and the
fact of an isolated mountain habitat, various human populations
did not live marginal existences dependent upon periodic excursions outside the mountain area. Rather, their lives were comfortable, satisfying, and amply provided for year round from
within their mountain habitat. Various populations maintained
an overall, preferred cultural emphasis on positive isolation
ism which permeated their distinct cultures and affected in a
similar manner their relationships and dealings with outsiders,
whether these outsiders were culturally similar or culturally
different in origin from themselves.